Neutering Your Dog: It's Only A Matter Of Time (7)

The neutering and spaying of male and female dogs, respectively, not only helps future generations of the animals but also contributes to the well-being of present pets.

The spaying of females is never given a second thought by most people, unless breeding is definite because of the problems when the female comes into season. Unfortunately, the male ego dominates the fate of the male dog and getting the boy "fixed" typically sends chills of anxiety through the minds of men dog owners.

"Go right ahead and spay my female dog, but don't touch my male!"

..says many men who associate their dogs with "themselves." The belief that the dog won't be a whole true male bothers them and they don't want to be responsible for its castration. Men stick together!

According to several veterinarians, there is no reason not to neuter a normal, healthy male dog and in fact provide many positive reasons for the operation. For example, altered males rarely roam the neighborhood or fight with other dogs, but are still protective of family and home.

Castrated at the preferred age of between eight and twelve months, there will be no personality change in the dog, only an elimination of the desire for the opposite sex. His male habits will not have developed yet and since he hasn't found out about females, he won't know what he is missing.

Be careful not to have the operation too soon!

If the operation is performed too early on the dog, his penis and urethra will not mature, causing stones that may develop in later years to be very painful and probably impossible to pass. Castration performed on a dog between one and three years may result in a change in his behavior pattern.

If the dog has been a wanderer (always searching for females) or a fighter or sexually aggressive, even toward people, especially children, the operation will take an edge off his obnoxious behavior. Suddenly beginning to wet in the house after 2 years, one male dog stopped this spraying behavior immediately after castration - reported his owner.

Older dogs may hot change at all.

Unfortunately, castration doesn't always succeed in making the older dog a nicer pet. If the dog is naturally a garbage hound or a runner, there will be no change in his behavior pattern. If the sex habits are ingrained in his make-up, he will continue them even though the reason has gone.

This is one excellent reason why castration should be done before the dog is a year old - to eliminate instincts before they become habits, habits impossible to change later in life.

If you have read our most recent studies and arguments for the positive health changes associated with the older female dog and spaying, we have indeed only talked about the benefits of spaying. But are there any drawbacks?

Some veterinarians think there are, but by comparison they are minor. Now and then a dog might show a very slight shedding condition after spaying. This usually is not a long-lasting problem.

Some just-spayed females develop swelling around the vulva, but this is usually of short duration and quite normal.

"We have not noticed any big increase in the neutering of dogs of either sex in our practice over the last ten years", says Dr. Gordon, of his private veterinarian practice, located in San Diego, CA. He goes on to say, "There is a great cry about the dog birth rate, but we have detected no large shifts."

Birth Control For Dogs?

Decades ago there was one large pharmaceutical company that came out with a shot that could be given to female dogs which would delay their heat periods for six months to a year. It worked very well, but in some cases the side effects were noticed. It turned out that many dogs so delayed had undergone ovarian and uterine changes that adversely affected their health. The drug was removed from the market, however, today these drugs come in various types and are readily available.

Are birth control pills safe for your older female dog? Not according to the possible side effects. While the pharmaceutical companies will boast about safety usage, use common sense before administering any chemicals to your dog and better yet - just have the operation done by your veterinarian. It's safe, effective, and will not lead to deadly side effects.

Birth Control Chemicals Added To Pet Food?

Now there is new talk of a new chemical which is added to pet food and is supposed to have the same effect as birth control pills. It does prevent conception. Pet food marketers would include the chemical in marked cans and it would cost reasonably cheap in order to induce pet owners to use it.

This idea is still not developed and quite honestly I am not sure how well the public would accept such a drug in their dog's food. Whatever happened to healthy living? And again, just like using common sense with any type of birth control drugs for your older female dog, refrain from using any chemicals if at all possible. Spaying is the safest route to take.

Older female dogs should not be left to become pregnant, especially if by accident. While you may not agree with this notion, it can only enlighten your opinion by understanding a few solid reasons why these senior citizen lady dogs should be fixed.

In addition to the prevention of inheritable diseases and avoiding physical problems from have puppies at such an old age, the following arguments also stand a firm ground for the decision to have the older female dog spayed.

Spaying Can Help Prevent Your Dog From Being Exposed To Communicable Diseases

The overwhelming rush of male dogs at six-month periods often brings your female into contact or close proximity to a variety of dogs which could be infected. In some cases females will put down an aggressive male and result can be a biting, scratching, and fighting, which results in medical attention needed.

Spaying Will Reduce The Mess Of Heavy Discharge

If your dog has a heavy discharge during her heat period, you have probably spent your fair share of time cleaning up blood stains from rugs, floors, and furniture. A quick operation by your veterinarian can stop this problem. While this is not a major consideration, you'll appreciate this point if you've ever tried to get blood out of a soft, fuzzy, white bathroom rug.

No More Dog Riots Outside Your Front Door

One of the benefits of spaying any female is the elimination of the twice-yearly nuisance factor of other dogs in your neighborhood trying to break down your door or fence. The attractiveness of a female dog in heat is extremely powerful.

While you may have adequate means of restraining your female and warding off male dogs, there is still a nuisance factor to your neighbors from the barking, and urinating and defecating on lawns and shrubs. If your female is through producing, you can eliminate this twice-yearly problem easily.

Spaying Your Older Female Dog May Increase Her Energy Levels

Many older dogs go through this, especially females. If your dog is constantly thin and weary, it could be that spaying will release a new directional burst of energy for her. Their whole physical well-being takes on a different turn, which can even be noticed in their coat, appearances, responses, and attitude.

Neutering Your Dog: It's Only A Matter Of Time (6)

Did you know that more pets are abandoned during the hot summer months than any other time of the year?

Families pick up a puppy for the children to enjoy during their vacation at the shore or in the mountains, and abandon it on the way home. In sections of Long Island, New York and New Jersey, more strays have been found than usual after the summer months.

Trying to find homes for the strays and puppies is a never-ending job for humane organizations. Some shelters feature a column in the local papers with pictures and information on available animals. Often a cute picture is all that is needed to stir up interest, although people who adopt a dog on a whim is of no help. Then it's only a matter of time before the dog is returned to the shelter.

Some are brought back only after a few days because they "don't bark when a stranger approaches the house." Many people don't realize that it takes time - at least a couple of weeks - for a dog to establish ownership and a sense of belonging. He then barks to protect something of his (a home and a family).

Too often a neighborhood burglary will send people to the local SPCA for a watchdog that ends up on a six-foot chain, day and night. Because of this, many SPCAs perform house checks to see if there are adequate facilities before allowing one of the larger breeds to be adopted.

Though euthanasia is believed to be the worst thing that could happen to a dog, it is by far one of the best. Laboratories all over the country are looking for animals on which to experiment. Hours, days, and even weeks of indescribable agony undergone by animals during experiments could never be compared with the finality and peacefulness of euthanasia.

Dog nappers, a constant threat to family pets, also supply many laboratories with vivisection subjects. And other laboratory source are the people who insert ads in local newspapers stating: "Wanted to buy: Your unwanted puppies" These are also many of the same people that also answer the advertisements: "Free to a good home."

The SPCA recommends to make sure your puppies don't wind up on an experiment table by checking on their new homes before allowing them to be taken. Unfortunately, SPCAs in some states cannot refuse to sell unlicensed, unclaimed dogs after 48 hours and licensed, unclaimed dogs after 10 days to laboratories.

The only way to protect family pets is to keep them from straying and to put tags on them so they can be identified if lost. Care and concern for pets by their owners would eliminate suffering, confusion and unhappiness experienced by too many a man's best friends.

we're planning to neuter our other dog but we don't know where to look for low-cost. I was just wondering if banfield does it even though the pet is not on a wellness plan.